PHILADELPHIA — We're back at Citizens Bank Park for game two of this interrupted, three-game series, and this one may be more notable for who's not in the lineup than who's in.

For the Nationals, Ryan Zimmerman is out for the third straight game, apparently still hampered by a tight hamstring. The Nats had hoped Zim would be well enough to play after resting Sunday, Monday and Tuesday's off day, but this hasn't healed as quickly as everyone believed.

So Alberto Gonzalez gets his first start at third base. Cristian Guzman, meanwhile, is at shortstop, with Ian Desmond getting the night off. Strangely enough, both of Desmond's days off so far have come against the Phillies and Kyle Kendrick.

Meanwhile, both Jimmy Rollins (calf) and Jayson Werth (hip) are out for Philadelphia, and there's speculation Rollins will end up on the DL. [UPDATE: Rollins was indeed placed on the 15-day DL and replaced by Wilson Valdez. Werth, though, hopes to be back in the lineup tomorrow.] The Phillies' lineup is still imposing, but doesn't look nearly as scary with Greg Dobbs batting fifth.

Check back throughout the game for updates, and check the homepage for other news…

I thought Desmond won the SS job? Why does he need a day off when yesterday was an off day? This is a rather bizarre way to find out if he can do the job. Either play him or send him to Syracuse, but don't jerk him around.

I don't have a problem with Desmond sitting. I thought he was overaggressive at times and Guzman has earned some playing time by hitting well in the reserve role so far.My bigger issue is that out machine at 3B. Eric Bartlett please hit your way onto this lineup. The General sounds like a great nickname for a Chief.Time for Dunn to awaken, hopefully following some extra BP due to the off day. He just needs to hit the mistakes a long way. The eye is certainly there.

To 3:59pm post.They do that schuduling, only when opening day is the first day. It just much easier to slide opening day tickets to that off day the next day in case of rain. This way their is no conflict and don't want to loss that gate which is the largest of the year for most teams.Monday was Philly's opening day, last Monday was the Nationals (but some would say that it was also the Phils opening day based on the crowd). The off days were both the the Tuesday after Opening day.

"I don't have a problem with Desmond sitting. I thought he was overaggressive at times and Guzman has earned some playing time by hitting well in the reserve role so far."With Zimm sitting, all three could play, with Kennedy at third, Desmond at SS, and Guz at 2B. So this amounts to trading Desmond for Alberto Gonzales in the lineup. Nobody likes that. Sure, this way Kennedy and Guzman stay at their natural positions, so maybe there's a minor defensive uptick. But Desmond, for his faults thus far, was at least a regular thread to knock the ball out of the park or at least off the wall. We're basically down to two such hitters now. That's ugly. If you're playing in a bandbox, put in some guys who have a chance to take advantage of that fact.

Further to the post-opening day off-day discussion, note that these off-days are not scheduled for opening days played in domes/retractable roofs or in warm climates with little chance of rain (e.g., San Diego). With Minnesota's new open-air stadium, I'm surprised they did not schedule an off-week just to be safe.

I agree that English could use some work in the minor leagues. However, when it comes to choosing between him, Bergmann, Walker, and Batista, I vote to let all of them go (well, English to the minor leagues). If they had such a tight leash on Mock, why not on these guys? None of them has been good in the major leagues for a long time. Walker didn't pitch much last year, and he has only had good years in which he pitched few innings. Batista has been useless for 3 years now, and Bergmann flat-out stinks (although, he's a nice guy).

So far this season, the Nats have 2 pitchers who can come close to pitching in the Bigs. Stammen's performance to-night seems suggest that spring training performances are not the predictors that they should be.

Phil – I worry that having such a short leash on the young pitchers (e.g., Mock) makes all the pitchers worse. They seem so worried about being perfect that they stink. Or maybe they just aren't very good to begin with. Either way, I don't think it's a good policy.

… I agree with Janner33 about Bergmann. I have heard and read a lot of stuff this spring about the tenuous statuses of many bullpen pitchers, but it always seems that Jason B. gets a pass in those considerations. I often wonder if it's because he's got pictures stashed somewhere. If he does, maybe they should go with him the the farm.

Ran into the J-Berg riding the metro after a game with his wife — they were with a couple of friends going somewhere with them, not riding the train for kicks. If you've seen his wife, you know why he is being kept around. At least one of 'em is hot right now…

… seriously though folks, I've been thinking (a dangerous habit at the best of times), and it seems to me that these games against the hottest team in the east will serve the Nats well in the future. They have proven to me, and to themselves, that if they can stand in there with the Phils, they will most surely be able to bring it against the rest of the division. They don't play Philly for the entire season.Go Nats!!